Menu

Bee or wasp sting: get the sting out, ease the swelling, spot an allergic reaction

Reviewed by Dr Sumbal Safi Ullah✓, MBBS

By 5 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Last updated: 28 October 2026References

Set preferred
Illustration of a woman in a garden scraping the side of a plain card across the back of her hand, a bee flying away in the distanceIllustration
On this page 8 sections

In short

Walk away, then scrape any sting out sideways with a fingernail or the edge of a bank card (not tweezers) and wash with soap and water. Hold a wrapped ice pack on it for at least 20 minutes. Call 999 for swelling of the lips or throat, or trouble breathing.

Jump to the steps

At a glance

Sting left in?
Scrape it out sideways; no tweezers (NHS)
Then
Wash with soap and water; cold compress for 20+ minutes (NHS)
Don't
Scratch it or use bicarbonate of soda (NHS)
Call 999
Swollen lips, mouth or throat, trouble breathing, fainting (NHS)
Advice from
NHS, nidirect, American Academy of Dermatology and CDC (NIOSH), read 28 October 2026
Checked
October 2026

Most bee and wasp stings are not serious and settle within a few days (NHS). A sting usually causes pain and a small, raised, swollen lump that may look red, which is harder to see on darker skin, and sometimes itching (NHS). The few minutes after a sting matter most: get away, get the sting out quickly, and keep an eye on the person for an allergic reaction.

What to do after a sting

  1. Walk calmly away from the insects.

    Illustration of a woman walking away along a garden path holding her stung hand, a few wasps left behind near a flowering bush
    Illustration

    Bees usually sting once, but wasps and hornets can sting again (AAD). If several insects are attacking, the CDC says to run. A bee sting releases a chemical that may attract other bees (CDC). If you are helping someone else, stay with them so you can spot an allergic reaction (CDC).

    You should see: no insects around you any more.

  2. Careful: don't use tweezers or pinch the sting with your fingers. Squeezing it can push more venom into the skin (NHS, AAD).

    If the sting is still in the skin, scrape it out sideways.

    Close-up illustration of the edge of a plain card scraping sideways across the skin of a forearm to lift out a tiny sting, a short arrow showing the direction
    Illustration: scrape sideways, don't squeeze

    Do it quickly: the AAD says the longer the sting stays in the skin, the more venom it releases. Scrape across it with a fingernail or the edge of a bank card (NHS), or wipe it out with gauze (CDC). If you can't see anything in the skin, go straight to the next step.

    You should see: nothing left sticking out of the skin, just a small mark where the sting went in (NHS).

  3. Wash the area with soap and water.

    Illustration of a woman washing the back of her hand with soap under a garden tap
    Illustration

    All three sources, the NHS, AAD and CDC, say to wash a sting with soap and water.

    You should see: clean skin, ready for the cold compress.

  4. Hold a cold compress on it for at least 20 minutes.

    Illustration of a woman sitting on a garden chair holding an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on her raised forearm
    Illustration

    If it is swollen, use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cloth soaked in cold water, for at least 20 minutes (NHS). Raise the area if you can (NHS). The cold helps bring the swelling down (AAD, CDC).

    You should see: the lump no bigger than before, and the pain starting to ease.

  5. Leave it alone: don't scratch it.

    Illustration of a woman resting her stung hand flat on a table, her other hand held away from it, a small round swelling on the back of the hand
    Illustration

    Scratching can lead to infection (NHS) and can make swelling and itching worse (CDC). Skip home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda (NHS). For pain or itching, a pharmacist can recommend a suitable painkiller, antihistamine or cream (NHS).

    You should see: the skin intact, with no scratch marks.

  6. Keep watching for signs of an allergic reaction.

    Illustration of a woman sitting beside a child on a garden bench, looking at the child's face while the child holds a cold cloth on their arm
    Illustration

    Most people do not have a severe reaction, but anyone who has been stung should be watched for more serious symptoms (AAD). Swelling that spreads to other areas such as the face or neck needs emergency care straight away (AAD). Use the 999 list at the top of this page.

    You should see: normal breathing, a normal voice and colour, and swelling that stays around the sting.

Is this normal? What you see and what to do

What you seeWhat to do
Pain and a small raised lump, maybe red or itchyNormal. Follow the steps above; it usually settles within days (NHS)
The sting feels hot, looks red, is painful or swollen, or leaks pus or fluidSee a pharmacist; they can supply antibiotics if it is infected (NHS)
It is getting worse or not improving, or you were stung more than onceGet an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 (NHS)
A sting in the mouth or throat, or near the eyesContact NHS 111 or an urgent GP appointment (NHS); call 999 if the mouth or throat swells
Swelling spreading to the face or neck, or trouble breathingCall 999 (NHS, AAD)

How to tell it is settling

  • Nothing is left in the skin.
  • The swelling stays around the sting and gets smaller over the next days (NHS).
  • Breathing, voice and colour are normal, with no swelling of the lips, mouth or throat.
  • The skin isn't hot, red or leaking pus (NHS).

If something goes wrong

What happensWhat it meansWhat to do
You can't get the sting out by scrapingIt may be embedded or already outDon't dig with tweezers or a needle (NHS). If the area gets hot, red or swollen, see a pharmacist (NHS)
The itching keeps you awakeA common mild reaction (NHS)Ask a pharmacist about an antihistamine or a cream (NHS)
A child under 1 was stungBabies need checking (NHS)See a GP; call 999 for any of the emergency signs
You feel dizzy or light-headedIt may be an allergic reaction (NHS)Contact NHS 111 urgently; call 999 if breathing or the throat is affected (NHS)

Questions readers ask

Do vinegar or bicarbonate of soda help a sting?

The NHS says not to use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda. Cool it with a cold compress instead, and ask a pharmacist if it itches or swells a lot.

Can a wasp sting more than once?

Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology says bees usually sting once, but wasps and hornets can sting again, which is why you should calmly walk away first.

How long does a sting stay swollen?

The NHS says most stings settle within a few days. If it is getting worse or not improving, get an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111.

I had a bad reaction to a sting before. What should I do now?

Contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently after any new sting, even if you feel fine (NHS). The CDC advises people with a history of severe reactions to carry their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector and wear a medical ID. Ask your GP whether you need one.

Did this solve the problem?

What did you think?

Reaction counts are loading.

Spotted a mistake? If a step is unclear or a picture is inaccurate, tell us the step number and what needs correcting. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.

Liked this article?

Follow us for new articles and short how-to videos.

Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFollow on FacebookFollow on XFollow on ThreadsFollow on Pinterest